New Orleans Saints: 5 Ways Saints Can Succeed This Season Without Sean Payton

The New Orleans Saints have undoubtedly experienced the worst offseason in recent memory of any team in the NFL.

Due to the scandal now widely known as Bountygate, the Saints have lost much of its coaching staff for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the duration of the season. Assistant coach Joe Vitt was also handed a six-game suspension by Roger Goodell for his involvement, which resulted in finding an interim coach to take over as the current interim coach serves his suspension.

The instability that comes with a head coaching carousel can take away the focus from on-field performance.

But despite missing head coach Sean Payton for the entire season, the Saints will continue to be favorites in the NFC.

Rallying from Adversity

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The New Orleans Saints are definitely in a compromising position—and they wouldn’t want it any other way.

This, of course, is the same franchise that won the Super Bowl while the entire city of New Orleans was facing the horrid aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Fighting through adversity has been a New Orleans Saints staple since then.

Their togetherness remains intact, which is a testament to Drew Brees.

The team already went through some adversity in Week 1, as they lost to rookie Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins in a shootout.

A high-scoring affair of that magnitude will most likely not happen again this season, but the experience of losing can benefit the team, especially now.

The Saints have been able to prove others wrong before, and they will definitely do it again this season.

"I had a chance to visit with him shortly after [the poster went up], and I made him promise that as soon as I come back, it comes down. But we've always looked for ways to motivate and get our message across. And I appreciate his support more than anything in the world."

His pictorial presence in the practice facility could lessen the woes of losing a head coach for the season, since the team will constantly be reminded of his support.

Of course, time will only tell if the Saints can truly survive without head coach Sean Payton.